Signal device



D. J. MCCARTHY SIGNAL DEVICE Filed May 27, 1920 n 221/527, Jamel mi Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

UNITED stares 1,451,166 PATENT orricaj DANIEL J. MCCARTHY, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO RAILWAY SIGNAL AND SUPPLY OOIVIPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

' SIGNAL DEVICE.

/ Application filed May 27, 1920. Serial No. 384,560.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIELJ. MOCARTHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in signal devices.

One of the object-s of the invention is to improve poly-chromatic signal devices from which a shaft of light, of selected color, may be projected, as a signal.

A more specific object is to provide improved means for moving the light reflector to appropriate position, with respect to the several sources, of vari-colored lights, or lamps, within the device.

Other, further and more specific objects of the invention will become readily apparent, to persons skilled in the art, from a considerationof the following description, when taken in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein v j 1 Fig.1 is a central vertical section, showing the reflector and one of the lamps for co-operation therewith and "the motor mechanism in elevation."

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the reflector moved'intoa new position.

Fig. 4: is a similar'view showing the reflector'm'oved into another position.

In all the views the same, reference characters are employed to indicate similar parts.

In an application filed by me herewith, Serial No. 384,559, I have disclosed and claimed a signal device, in many respects similar to the structure herein shown, the arrangement of the lens, lamps, subcasings, and reflector being substantially the same. In the present case a different form of electric motor, more especially adapted for direct current, is herein shown, whereas, in the former case, motors for alternating current are indicated. In the companion case, the broader claims are contained, while in the instant application the claims are more closely confined to the form of motor and its relation to the other mechanism of the device.

In the accompanying drawings, 5 shows a part of the general casing for containing the device, having an opening for a lens 6, the axis 7 ofwhich is in line with the axis of the shaft 8, the lens is placed, as shown, in a vertical plane. Mounted in line with the horizontal axis of the lens 6, substantially at right angles to the diametric' plane thereof, is a shaft 8, provided with bearings 9 and 10, supported on standards 11 and 12, respectively. The shaft 8 is quite free toturn uponits bearings and on its inwardly projecting end, it supports a disk 13, having mounted thereon a reflector 14:, such as a mirror, or the like. Located about the lens are a series of sub-casings 15, 16 and 17. Each of these casing contains a lamp 18, 19 and 20, respectively. Each of the sub-casings is provided withanopening 21. In front of the casing15 is a red glass 22 thru which the light from the lamp 1.8 will pass when it impinges upon the refleeting surface let of the refiector.- If the lamp globes are of the proper color, the glass 22 may be dispensed with. The object being to color the shaft of light received 'from the respective easings, so that each shall have a distinctive color, such for example, as red, yellow and green. The casing 16, therefore, would have a. green lamp, or be provided with a green, translucent plate 22, while the casing 17 would have a,

yellow lamp, or be provided with a yellow plate 22. I I I j 'Red is usually a color indicative of danger and, as the reflector is mounted in such manner, with respect to the shaft 8, that it will always assume the position shown in Fig. 1 by the effect of gravity, the device will always show a shaft of red light, when the lamp 18 is illuminated, or becomes ener gi zed.

A bracket-arm 23 is secured to the casing 5, as by bolts or screws 24, and on its on tended free end 25 it carries two solenoids 26 and 27. A cross-arm 28, is secured to the shaft 8. The cross-arm is slotted at its ends as at 29 and 30. The cores 26' and 27 of the electro-magnet coils, 26 and 27, are connected to the slots 29 and 30, respectively, by' means of links 31 and 82, respectively. When the iii in front of the lamp 19 and, therefore, a green light will be projected thru the lens. The lights will continue to shine thru the lens so long as the respective motors, or solenoid coils and associated lamps are energized, but so soon as either of these solenoids are de-energized, after holding the lens in its appropriate position, then the effect of gravity will move the reflector back into the positionshown in Fig. 1, or immediately below the red light, whereby a shaft of red light will be projected thru the lens 6. Now, solong as the red light remains energized, a shaft of red light will be projected thru the lens 6. The solenoid coil 26 is in series with the lamp 520, while the solenoid coil 27'is in 'serieswith a lamp l9 and, therefore, it is necessary that the energizing current must pass thru the lamp and then thru the solenoid before the reflector will be moved thereby to its position, assuring the operation of the device. But, if the solenoid be deranged by having an open circuit or if th lamp have a broken filament then, the

instrument will continue to project the light of danger or, more particularly the shaft of red light. In Fig. 2, I haveshown diagrammatically a circuit 33 containing a battery 34, or other source of electric energy, including the solenoid 26 and the lamp 19, and

a similar circuit 35 containing a battery 36,

or other source of electric energy, and the solenoid winding or coil 27 with the lamp 20 in series therewith. An appropriate electric switch 87 is used ineach case for closing the respective circuits, while the circuit 38 is usedfor energizing the lamp 18. Any appropriate means for closing the circuits and any source of electric energy, adaptable for the purpose, may be used Without modifyin effect upon the structure shown.

W ile I have; herein shown a single embodiment of invention forfthe purpose of clear disclosure, it 'will" be manifest that changes may be made in the general arrangement and configuration of the parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention What I laim as new and desire to secure by! Letters Patent is i l. A signal .device having a lens;a plurality of lamps arranged around the lens, a reflector, movabl to project the light thru the lens from a selected lamp and a solenoid, in series with the selected lamp to move the reflector to appropriate cooperative position with respect to said lamp.

2. A signal device having. a lens; three lamps arranged about the lens; a reflector, movable to project the light thru the lens from the center lamp and movable by gravity to said position; a solenoid winding, in series with one of the other lamps, the core thereof connected to the reflector to move it to appropriate position for said lamp and a solenoid winding in series with the other lamp having its core connected to the reflector to move it to appropriate position for said associated lamp. 3

3. A signal device having a lens with its axis in a horizontal plane; a lamp immediately above the axis of said lens and alamp on each side of the intermediate lampfan oscillatable reflector inclined at substantially forty five degreesto the axis ofthe lens, normally in positionto reflect the light thru the lens from th lamp immediately above and movable to reflect the light from either of the side lamps thru said lens; a;.solenoid in series with one side lamp connected to the reflector to move it into position to reflect the light therefrom and a solenoid in series with the other side lamp connected to the re flector to move it into position to reflect the light therefrom and means to return the reflector to normal position when both side lamps are extinguished. f

' In testimony whereof- I hereunto subscribed my name. i DANIEL J. MCCARTHY. 

